The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-03-11


after the supper then in process of prepar-
alton. Such woman as she was.divinely
tall, straight, supple, strong, with eyes
from which a bastard would shrink invol-
unfairly. A pride sat on her ample brow
the Autocrat OF the Russias mi ght ape in
vain. A dauntless independence, cour-
age that would not down, seemed to hide
in the clearly cut nostril and firm sweet
mouth. Such, such women are the moth
ers of heroes
The Cobb women have been noted from
| time immemorial in their native State for
| energy, courage, independence and pride.
Betsy Green represented her race royalty
The proIdest of them could not be asham-
ed of her. IIark, she is listening. A step
upon the pavement arrests her attention
She opens the street door. a man past the
prime of life, yet well preserved, staggers
| in-yes, stagqers, no other word can con-
vey an idea Of his hating, uncertain steps.
One look of his red and bloated face re-
veals his condition-she becomes pale as
death-a great fear is Juggling at her
heart, it finds utterance: did you get
the farm Davs?'' 'Farm-farm-wh ar
ID ye-ta-kin' bout Bess?'' .'About
the farm you went to purchase, did you
get it? Where's the deed?'' ''Deed-deed
INIT scent yet-what dyer mean
Bess?" "Where have you been Dayis?"
Been? on time-got good'll information
too, | did, where's the money!"
ssMoney- oney?-don't know my thing
bout ny money-hain't had ny ter day
come after some ter spen'n candy for Their
--boy-the'r boy!' Heavens, Davis
Green! you haven't wasted that money and
come without the decd, have you?" cried
the excited woman, attempting to search
his pockets.
You re han some-woman when yer
mad--Bess,' biccouglicd the reeiing drunk
ard, attempting to clasp the exasperated
woman iii his foul embrace. s.Don't dare
to touch me, Davis Green." The fierce
passion in her tones arrested the attention
of his bemuddled senses, and he stared
straight into her white face as she slid her
slim hand into his various pockets and
brought it forth empty each time.
AT length the whole truth came to her
her money lcas acdsted IN a d1uaken spree!
Fifteen years of her life destroyed in three
days by him she had sworn to honor and
obey! She stood off and looked upon him,
her eyes flashing scorn, contempt, hatred;
her whole face shadowing forth an unut-
terable loathing no tongue could express.
He had thrown himself into chair and
sat staring with imbecile gravity at her
changing countenance His coat, vest and
pants, were smeafed with the vile contents
of his abused stomach, which he had evil
IDENTIFY emptied upon them repeatedly.
Doubtless he had been druggcd and rob
bed. Such things are of frequent occur
renee in great cities. The money was gone
and never came back. Such poetic jus
tice, /" as having If returned, might have
been recorded here had this woman's his
tory been a creation of fancy instead of
one of the great dramas in real life, so
often produced by the foul fiend Rum. It's
useless to attempt the portrayal of this I'M
happy woman's feelings-no pen can do
the subject justice. That money had stood
between her child and absolute want 1t
had promised release from the remorselesS
iiend holding her husband in thraldom
from whence there is but one escape
Prohibition.
What pity the little state of New
Hampshire, and Maine as well, could not
have peen ruled by it when this poor wo-
man, and thousands more, needed it so
much,
To be sure, Maine has a Prohibition law
but of what real service is it while il re-
mains dead letter by non-execution?
Friends OF temperance, workers in the
cause, why refuse US the corn and give us
only the husks, when we clamor SO loudly
for it? Why not vote as you pray? Why
crawl around it by saying softly, I'VE
don't think this is the best way, -''A Moral
Suasion" : Good Temperance Men" :
Temperance Republicans, &c, &c,
when YOU see so many Davis Greens that
nothing short of utter inability to obtain
the drug can cure? But we pass; winter
was before this woman and she was with
out even the common necessaries of life.
She had a very few dollars, not more than
two or three. Her husband could get no
credit. People outside knew him better
than she did, even now. 1t is true she had
her household goods which could be pawn
ed to keep off the wolf for some days; but
here came in the Cobb pride. That would
reduce them irretrievably.
Whether from the poisonous drugs taken
during that mad orgy, or from general
breaking up of his whole constitution by
repeated debaucberies, Davis Green was
never again well man. He at once be-
came a helpless burden on this wronged
woman's hands. Did she sink under the
added burden? Did she fold her hands
and sit down to starve along with her
worse than fatherless babe? What did
she do? What could she do with an old,
helpless man and an infant child Send
the old man to the workhouse | suppose,
| should methinks hear some one say.
Nay, kind reader, the Cobb pride would
not allow such degradation to be put